Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Every family has its fair share of characters and mine is no different. It being the holiday season and all, I’ve wanted to make cheese logs and cheese balls for parties. I had a lovely memory of my grandma and I making these when I was little and so I asked her for her recipe. Along with the instructions came the story of Aunt Betty.

As you probably know by now, I come from a long line of farmers. Every once in a while, however, someone would leave the family business and move away to the big city. Such was the case with my great-great-great aunt Betty, my great-grandmother’s sister.

Twice divorced (quite a scandal, I’m sure, back in those days but at least she married well with one husband a lawyer, the other a doctor) she left rural Texas to be an Oklahoma City socialite. Whenever she’d come home to the tiny north Texas town of Melissa to visit, she’d both fascinate and annoy her family with her fancy cars, her fancy clothes, her fancy travels and her fancy food.

In her later years she had to leave the city and ended up back in Melissa. Even though she had returned to her roots, she arrived with the experience of her many years of so-called sophisticated city living. And one of the spoils of this experience was her contribution to the holiday table—her cheese ball. It was unlike anything my rural relatives had seen before, and some sniffed that it was definitely not proper country food. But no matter, it was still a hit and my grandmother, fortunately, got the recipe from her aunt Betty.
I was the kind of kid who loved free food samples (OK, who are we kidding—I still love free food samples) and whenever we made a trip to the mall, a stop in Hickory Farms was a must for me because they were always giving away slivers of summer sausage and smears of cheese that came from a nut-wrapped ball.

When my grandmother suggested we make a cheese ball, back when I was eight or so, I was surprised that you could make something like that from scratch. Even though all the ingredients are natural, there’s something sort of unnatural looking about it, if you know what I mean. To my uneducated eyes, a cheese ball seemed highly engineered, not something you could craft with your own two hands.

I was wrong, of course, and discovered that it’s surprisingly simple. Cream cheese mixed with some Worcestershire sauce, a bit of garlic, a handful of nuts and the cheese or your choice is the basic recipe for a whole host of cheese balls and logs. And the best bit is that they taste delicious, look festive and have that retro appeal that makes people smile.

Now that the holiday season is in full swing, I plan on sharing these cheesy creations with my friends soon and often. While I don’t think anyone today would consider a cheese ball terribly sophisticated, I’ll smile when I think about how it shocked my ancestors when it made its appearance on the farm’s holiday table, all those years ago. And, of course, I'll think of Aunt Betty.

Instructions:
Mix together the cream cheese, chopped walnuts, cream cheese, garlic, Worcestershire sauce and minced onions until well blended. Roll the cheese mixture into a ball and then roll in chili powder (or paprika). Serve with crackers

56 comments:

Brenda in Texas
said...

Hi Lisa, that's a great story. My mom alwaysmade cheese balls but she loved to put pineapple in hers. We thought it was a real treat during the holidays too. I still make itand a batch of her "Million Dollar Fudge" every Christmas.

I grew up with Hickory Farms so I was amazed (and awed) when a neighbor brought us a cheese ball as a housewarming gift when I was about 8 or 9. It was THE BEST! Wish my mom had gotten the recipe! I'll have to give yours a try!!!

Cheese balls are fantastic! My sister-in-law usually brings one for appetizers before our big Thanksgiving dinner. This year, she didn't bring it (she just had a baby a couple of months ago and has had her hands full). When we asked her about the cheese ball (kiddingly), she just pointed to her very round-headed, sweet baby boy and said, "I brought this cheese ball instead!" We were happy to have the alternative, but only this once!

I never grew up with cheese balls (grew up in CA, now live in TX), but my nine year old son saw one at HEB recently and begged me to buy it and it was GOOD! I am definitely going to try the bleu cheese ball, sounds delish!

This post is so coincidental because I was just thinking about how I need to make one (or maybe two!) cheeseball(s) for the two Christmas parties that I am hosting this month. I'm pretty partial, though: my mom makes the best cheeseball EVER!! I, like you, was completely amazed that that something so...round...could be so easy to create. So, I'll be kind and share her receipe:

Howdy.I just found your blog by way of Smitten Kitchen. I love your story of Aunt Betty. Thank you for relating the history behind the recipe--most recipes usually have one, though it is not always considered or shared. I used to make cheese balls all of the time, in my early twenties when I was a foodie in training. I appreciate the reminder of how fun they can be!

I've never had a bite of a cheesball - and I'll ditto your original notion that something about them has that unnatural feel about them. Maybe I've seen one to many holiday baskets with these things tucked in! Your aunt's seems to be such a hit though, I'll have to try it for when we have people over.

as far as i can remember my grandma and mom make these every christmas and thanksgiving, as a kid i was always repulsed but now i love them. there was also a big bowl of scramble near by and we would cover our cheese logs with a handful of scramble. goin home for christmas, so looking forward to it

My grandmother always had these at her house for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons. She would have a variety of flavors, such as dill, smokey cheddar, jalapeno, and onion, served with Ritz, Triscets and saltines.

I make a Cheese log almost every year. Mix together grated sharp chedar with cream cheeses add a little garlic powder and mayo. Roll them into logs and roll in chili powder. You can mix in a few pecans if you like. Got me to thinking, what would some crisp bacon curmbled up be like in either a cheese ball or log?Wendell in LA (Lower Slabama)

I saw the post title listed on my BlogHer headline ads, and I knew it had to be yours! Great story, as always. I have a great Southern cookbook that's a collection of recipes from Atlanta sorority sisters, and it practically has an entire section devoted to 'balls' - fruit, nut, meat, you name it. To a former California girl, it's quite fascinating! ; )

This is so fun! It was only 2 short years ago that I realized you could make your own cheese logs, and pimento cheese, and a whole host of other things. Living abroad has taught me how to make a lot of things I miss - even love dip. Funny - all of these things are from your website! ;-)

Great story. Could you tell us why she had to return to Texas ? Something spicy went down ?

I much prefer homemade cheeseballs to the Hickory farm variety. My Grandmother always used Imperial Cold Pack Sharp Cheddar in her cheeseballs. This is almost an iconic food product in Canada, especially around Xmas time.

You can find it some US locations but some homesick CDN's order over the NET.

We had Aunt Betty in our family too (in fact, she gave me my nickname "LeeLee.") The main thing we looked forward too every year was the tin of homemade Christmas cookies she sent that were out of this world. I am glad I stumbled onto your blog... I'll be baaaack

I enjoyed the Aunt Betty story and I too would like to be nosy and ask why she had to return to Melissa! I'm going to make these cheese balls when I go home for Christmas, they look great and unusual, never had them before.

Hickory Farms rocked our Christmases in the '80s: cheese balls, sesame sticks, and beef stick. It all came to a crashing end when my parents caught my sister and me feeding the cheese balls and beef stick to our cat.

I could easily devour an entire cheeseball and a pack of crackers if given the opportunity. I usually make the savory kind but one year I made a sweet one made with cream cheese, amaretto, chopped almonds, and chopped dried apricots and served it with date nut bread, sliced apples, gingersnaps, and assorted biscuits/crackers.

Ah, yes. The crazy aunt that shocked the family. We have one of those too, Elizabeth. She was a flapper in the 20s and would somehow get herself up to Harlem from rural Pennsylvania as often as possible to go dancing and drink in speakeasies. She also had a horse, named Mr. Nipper that she trained to give any lady that bent over in front of him a gentle nip on her bottom.

I have a portrait of Mr. Nipper she had done, and every time I look at it, it makes me feel a little mischievous. Scandalous aunts are the best!

How very interesting....I had a great aunt Betty who lived outside OKC, and I clearly remember her being the "rich" one in the family and being much like you described. My favorite memory is that the had the only cadillac I'd ever been in, and it even had a phone in it (this was maybe 1975 or 1976, and was really something interesting at the time).

Your post made me laugh, because it reminded me of my Aunt Lela, who was born in deep East Texas dirt farm poverty and who didn't even have a name until she was six (She was born at home and they just called her "Baby" at first and then "Sissy" when her sister arrived. When it was time to go to school, she chose her own name). Anyway, when she was grown, she moved to San Francisco and lived there for more than 40 years. When she retired and came back, she had a veneer of sophistication--she lived in a trailer under the pine trees like everybody else, but it was exquisitely furnished and beautifully decorated. I remember she made a cheese ball with smoked salmon; folks were a little tentative about it but they ate it politely. After a while, she began making it with catfish and it turned into a local sensation. Adaptability was always her forte.

Wonderful story, and the recipes look great, too. Your mention of Hickory Farms brought back memories! I always considered their stuff very fancy and expensive when I was a kid. I must make your blue-cheese ball/log, especially, as I'm very partial to blue cheese of every variety. Thank you!

I remember a neighborhood Christmas party in Houston--I was probably around eight or nine years old--where my friend's mom had a port wine cheese ball on the table. I was so enamored with the thing, especially that ribbon of garnet swirling inside, that I excavated it to its core. I remember kind of sneaking it , actually. Since it had "wine" in its name, I wondered if I should really be eating it. I haven't had one in ages, but every time I pass the cheese display at my local grocery store, I am tempted to reach for one of those port wine cheese balls. There's something so perfect about a store-bought one. A guilty pleasure of sorts, kind of like frozen yeast rolls--something I could eat my weight in but just don't want to go to the fuss. Still, how easy is it to make a dang cheese ball? Thanks for these recipes, Miss Lisa!

Molly Elise--You're very welcome. And I grew up in Houston, so I reckon that's why everything might seem familiar!

Tommy--You know, I don't know why she moved back--maybe a new husband? What makes Cold Pack Sharp Cheddar so special? Is it extra sharp?

Lisa--Pineapple! Now that's decadent!

LeeLee--Thanks for stopping by! I wonder if every family has an aunt Betty?

Sara--I know Bonham--my grandfather's family is from a small town outside of Van Alstyne called Sedalia.

Kevin--Thanks!

Kristin--Yay! I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipes!

Babycakes--Like I wrote Tommy, I'm not for sure why she returned.

Esmeralda--Amaretto and dried apricots? Wow!

Sarah--I love Roquefort, too! It's my favorite blue cheese.

Ann--Is that why you love horses so much? And Mr. Nipper? Besides being a great story, I just love the name--it sounds like an old-fashioned candy bar!

Callie--Oh, yes--I haven't had a pecan turtle in years!

Anon--Wow! A car phone back in the 1970's was indeed a luxury!

Margaret--A cheese ball with catfish--it doesn't get more Texas than that! What a wonderful story!

Ginny--Ha! So true!

Bren--Thank you!

Lisa--I know--I thought it was the height of sophistication myself.

Amy--I remember one Christmas my parents had a crock jar filled with port wine cheese in the refrigerator, and I'd do the same thing--sneak bites because I thought it was naughty. But you should make a cheese ball from scratch--it's fun!

M-Star--Once the cream cheese softens, you just mix the shredded cheddar into the cream cheese. And my grandma mixes in the nuts so they're inside the cheese ball, but if you prefer you can roll the ball in the nuts so they'll be on the outside instead.

Imperial Cold pack cheddar is very sharp without the "sourness" many of older cheddars seem to take on. It seems to meld well into many things especially a cheeseball. It has been "processed" lightly but has not achieved "cheese food" status and notoriety.

How funny...I grew up in Melissa. Of course it's a lot different "now that the yuppies took over", as my Dad says. My parents even moved to Farmersville to escape it. My grandparents still live there though and I miss it!

A hankering for Hickory Farms Sesame Sticks sent me a-surfin'... and lo-and-behold, here I am: From OKC by way of Detroit, Pittsburgh and now Miami. As fascinating as it was to learn the foods of all three cities. it's blogs like this that make me realize Okie-Texa-Homa really does have its own cultural "cuisine."

i was just poking around for a way to spiff up my annual roquefort ball, and lo 'n' behold, came across you're wonderful aunt betty story. i guess the cheese ball mixture tends not to vary much. i DO add a dash of cayenne and a few drops of cholula ('cos that's the kind of girl i am) and also a few teaspoons of very finely chopped celery and purple onion, then roll it all in some toasted walnuts. i suppose that's where my california upbringing comes in-i prefer them over pecans, but don't tell anyone here in texas! hope you enjoy your holiday.

HA! It was a cheeseball and it was the first to be polished off w/i minutes & recipe requested by all! We've laughed about that exchange for a long time now. But as much as I love it, I hate making it b/c it involves dusting off the food processor. Clearly, your recipe is so much easier and I CAN NOT wait to try it! MMMMMMMMMM! xoxo

I made a cheese ball back in the early 80's that was very easy just a box of cream cheese, a small box of velvetta, we used velvetta ALOT in those days, even in our king ranch chicken! LOL! and a small amt of garlic and whatever other spices you like and a package of finely chopped pecans. mix together well. form into balls and roll each ball in chili powder to coat and put them in ice box. Thanks for all your recipes! I am so missing texas right now!

I'm 43 and for as far back as I can remember, we always had a Cheeseball at Christmas. It was made with cream cheese, horseradish, chopped dried beef, etc. and we still have it every year. It just wouldnt be Christmas without it!